Vivienne
Handy, PWS, the President and Principal Ecologist
for Quest Ecology, is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist
(P.W.S.) possessing over 25 years of experience in natural resource
management and environmental regulation. A significant portion
of Ms. Handy’s career experience has consisted of conducting
and managing field studies and impact assessments, permitting
and environmental documentation for a wide variety of projects
and clients, from roadway and bridge studies to mine reclamation
projects. Ms. Handy has managed large and small scale projects
involving wetland impacts, mitigation design, habitat management
and listed species issues throughout the state.
W.
David Gordon, as Senior Wildlife Ecologist, Mr.
Gordon is responsible for wildlife and habitat studies, protected
species surveys and relocations, and habitat management planning
and implementation. David’s over 16 years of experience
includes development of field sampling methodologies, banding/marking,
relocations and behavioral studies of reptiles, birds and mammals,
preparation of habitat management plans, permit coordination and
compliance, and wetland mitigation design, construction, and monitoring.
Mr. Gordon is a Master Bird Bander and an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent.
Laura
Morris, PWS, Senior Ecologist, has over 16
years of experience in environmental consulting and project management.
Laura is proficient in wetland delineations, ecological and environmental
assessments, mitigation monitoring and site management, protected
species surveys, statistical analysis, photo-interpretation, water
quality monitoring, federal and state environmental permitting,
and development and management of project databases. Laura has
become well known in the field for her botanical expertise and
field data collection skills.
Lee
Cook, MS, PWS, Senior Ecologist, has over 17
years of experience in ecosystem analysis, environmental permitting,
wetland delineation, and wildlife studies. Lee worked as a Wetlands
Biologist in the Regulatory Program of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers for over nine years, conducting jurisdictional determinations
over Waters of the U.S., as well as extensive field reviews for
DOA permit applications. Ms. Cook’s areas of specialization
include wetland wildlife management, hydric soil identification,
conservation biology, and herpetology. Lee’s project experience
includes permitting for large scale development and mining projects,
protected species surveys, and herpetofauna relocations.
Mary Barnwell, M.S., joined the Quest Team after being employed as Senior Land Management Specialist by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) for over 15 Years. For SWFWMD she was responsible for all facets of natural resource management on Weekiwachee Preserve, Conner Preserve, Annutteliga Hammock, Chassahowitzka Riverine System, and Halpata Tastanaki Preserve. Ms. Barnwell planned and implemented prescribed fires on all properties. She bossed over 400 prescribed burns, including Wildland/Urban Interface burns, and assisted as engine and ignition crew on numerous other burns on over 20 additional District properties.
Gretchen Nareff, MS, obtained her Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Management. Her thesis, Ecological Value and Bird Use of Managed Impoundments and Tidal Marshes of Coastal South Carolina, investigated the multi-species use of supplemental wetland habitat by dabbling ducks and declining shorebird species. Specializing in avian ecology, Ms. Nareff has seven years of diverse experience in biological monitoring and wildlife management, including captive rearing of endangered crane species, point counts and secretive marshbird surveys, telemetry for songbirds and gamebirds, mist- and cannon-netting shorebirds, and prescribed burning. Ms. Nareff also has experience with statistical analysis and technical and scientific writing. She recently submitted three papers from her Master’s research for publication in respected wildlife journals.
Mike
Pshar, Ecologist, has five years of environmental
consulting experience in Florida, performing ecological assessments,
water quality sampling, seagrass surveys, wildlife surveys, wetland
monitoring, vegetation and hydrologic data collection, and preparation
of technical reports. Mike’s project experience includes
assistance with over 100 wetland delineations; gopher tortoise
permitting and relocations; and estuarine community assessments,
including surveys of seagrass beds, hard bottoms, and benthic
communities.
Frank Kahoun, MS, has over 10 years of experience as an environmental professional with an emphasis in environmental consulting and project management. His expertise includes: post disaster remediation consulting, environmental resource permitting, habitat assessments, wetland delineations, threatened and endangered species surveys, mitigation construction oversight, mitigation site design, environmental compliance monitoring and reporting, and environmental resource management. Through his experience working with a variety of clients including developers, private land owners, municipalities and local, state and federal agencies throughout the State of Florida, Frank has developed a well rounded portfolio of project experience.
Autumn
Schwab, MA, GIS/Environmental Specialist, has over six years of experience in GIS and statistical analysis. As part of the Quest team, she provides
GIS support on a wide range of projects involving research, data
collection, data analysis and database development in support
of environmental permitting, watershed studies, habitat restoration
and management, and wildlife population studies. Autumn’s
graduate research focused on GIS, environmental science, and spatial
ecology, and her thesis, The Influence of Roads on the Florida
Panther, was nominated by USF for the Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation
Award in the Fall of 2006.
Melanie
Higgins, Public Involvement Specialist and Marketing
Coordinator, has over twelve years of professional and volunteer
experience in a wide range of areas from website development to
grant writing, to community outreach planning. Melanie is proficient
in public meeting planning and execution, and design and creation
of presentation materials, and has been actively involved in environmental
education programs for many years.